Ball-gauging machine



ma 2?, 1m 1' m mw h -H, LUTZ I BALL GAUGING. MACHINE Filed Feb. 6;;919 Sheets-Sheet IN V EN TOR.

Hams Lui 1 ,495,494 H.LUTZ- BALL GAUGING MACHINE Fil g; Feb. 6, v1919 13 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. Hans Lug May 27, 1924. 1,495,494

H. LUTZ BALL GAUGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1919 13 Shets-Sheet 5 1,495,494 7 H. LUTZ BALL GAUGI'NG MACHINE F lled Feb. 6, 1919 13 Sheets-Sheet 4 g INVENTOR.

' Hans H. LUTZ BALL GAUGING MACH I NE Filed Feb. 6, 1919 1:5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR; Hans Lug TREY may 27 1924 4 H. LUTZ BALL GAUGING MACHINE Fi led Feb. '6 1919 13 Sheets-Sheet 6 IN V EN TOR A TTORNEY H. LUTZ BALL GAUGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1919 13 Sheets-Sheet v ATTORNEY H Rfia 27, 1924. jrl

H. LUTZ, BALL GAUGiNG MACHINE 1 '13 Sheets-Sheet 8" Filed Feb. 6, 1919 m T m m Hans Lag ATTORNEY Filed Feb. 6,

1919 15 Sheets-Sheet 9 IN VEN TOR. Hans L M23 'A TTON May 27, 1924. r 1,495,494

} H. LUTZ BALL GAUGING MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1919 13 Sheets-Sheet 10 v 'INVENTOR,

Hans'Lut A TTORNEY May 27, 9 24.

H. LUTZ BALL GAUGINQ MACHINE Filed Feb. 6, 1919 v 15 sheets sheet 11 INVENTOR. .Hans'Lufj A TTORNEY H.Lu%z

BALL GAUGING MACHINE Filed Feb. e,'191a' 13 Sheets-Sheet 12 JNVENTOR. 1741:? Lag A TTORNEYS.

LQQSAZM H. LUTZ BALL GAUGING MACHINE Filed Feb.-3, 1919 1-3 Sheets-$heet 15 Wm m m m i ATTORNEY 1N VEN TOR May 27 19m Patented May 27, 1924.

HANS LUTZ, OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB TO THE WiIiLYS-MORROW COMPANY,

OF ELMIRA, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OHIO.

BALL-GAUGING MACH 1N3.

Application filed February 8, 1919. Serial No. 275,418.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HANS LUTZ, residin at Elmira, county of Chemung, State 0 New York, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Ball-Gauging Machines, of which I declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to ball gauging machines, and is particularly adapted for gauging the balls used in the manufacture of ball bearings.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a ball gauging machine designed in such a way that a maximum number of balls may be gauged with the greatest possible precision in a minimum amount of time.

Another object of the invention is to construct a ball .gauging machine which will reuire overhauling and readjustment only at t e end of relatively long periods of time.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ball gauging machine having constantly moving members upon which the balls are carried and by which they are auged, in contra-distinction to employing xed or nonmovable gauging members.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine having rotatable oppositely driven members upon which the balls are adapted to travel, and between which they pass at points varying'in spaced relation, whereby a number of balls of slightly different diameters may be separated and discharged into suitable receptacles in order that the balls used for a particular bearing or particular sets of bearings may be of an exact or equal size.

Aonther object of the invention is to provide a plurality of ball carrying cylinders 40 or rollers, between which balls of different sizes are permitted to pass at predetermined points, means being provided by which the cylinders may be inclined one relatively to the other.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of ball gauging cylinders with means for driving the same, and improved means by which a fine or very accurate adjustment of the cylinders may be had, as well as independent means for effecting approximate adjustment of said cylinders, one relatively to another.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide a plurality of ball gau 'ng cylinders or rollers having adjustable earings for receiving said cylinders so that when the latter are reground from time to time the bearings be suitabl adjusted or reduced in size to t the cylin ers after each grinding.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of ball gauging cylinders.

having improved adjusting means for effecting both lateral and longitudinal adjustment of the cylinders, one relatively to the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide a plurality of ball gauging cylinders having means by which longitudinal adjustment of the cylinders is effected, comprising adjustable end thrust members a ainst which the cylinders are held by the action o 7 the drivin mechanism therefor.

A still urther object ofthe invention is each other is prevented.

Still another object of the invention is to provide improved means by which the balls to be gauged are fed to the cylinders.

. Another object of the invention is to provide means for vertically inclining the cylinders supporting frame in order that any desired inclination of the cylinders may be had, whereby the speed of the balls upon the cyllilnders may be increased or decreased at w1 Another object of the invention is to provide means for varying the speed at which the cylinders are driven from time to time.

Another object of the invention is to pro vide means by which either of the ball gauging cylinders may be adjusted relatively to the other.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved adjusting mechanism for inclining one of the cylinders with respect to another, together with means for indicating the amount of adjustment of the cylinders for a predetermined movement of the adjusting mechanism.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved double screw adjusting mechanism for effecting angular adjustment. of one of the cylinders with respect to an other.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved chute construction by which the balls of difierent sizes are separately conveyed from the c linders to the several receptacles provide for receiving the same.

To these and other ends the invention co1nprises certain novel features of construction and arrangements of parts which will hereinafter be more fully pointed out and claimed, it being understood that the present embodiment is merely illustrative of one form which the invention may take. and that other forms may be developed embodying the broad principles set forth herein without departing from the spirit of the invention when considered from its broadest asect.

p A structure constituting one embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure I is a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention.

Figure II is an end elevation thereof.

Figure III is a plan view of the machine shown in Figure I with certain parts removed.

Figure IV is an enlarged fragmentary plan showing the trough in position for conveying the balls from the container to the gauging cylinders or rollers.

Figure V is a sectional plan taken on lines V-'V of Figures I, II, VI and XX.

Figure VI is a transverse sectional View taken on line VIVI of Figures I, III, IV, V. VII, VIII and XIII.

Figure VII is a longitudinal sectional elevation, through the cylinder carrying frame, taken on lines VIIVII of Figures III, IV, V and VI.

Figure VIII is a similar longitudinal section taken on lines VIIIVIII of Figures III, IV, V and VI.

Figure IX is a transverse sectional elevation taken on lines IXIX of Figures III, IV, V, VII and VIII.

Figure X is a detailed sectional elevation taken on lines XX of Figures III, IV, IX and XI.

Figure XI is a detailed sectional plan taken on lines XI-XI of Figures II, IX and X.

Figure XII is an enlarged sectional elevation through one of the cylinders taken pin lines XII-XII of Figures III, IV and Figure XIII is an enlarged sectional elevation through one of the cylinder bearings Leeaaaa .ings taken on lines XIVXIV of Figures XII, XIII and XXIX.

Figure XV is a perspective view of one of the bearing supporting sleeves.

Figure XVI is a perspective view of one of the bearings.

Figure XVII is a perspective view of a ring for holding the bearing sleeve in supporting engagement with the hearing.

Figure XVIII is an enlarged sectional plan through the frame for supporting the cylinders, taken on lines XVIII-XVIII of Figures I and VI.

Figure XIX is a detailed sectional elevation taken on lines XIXXIX of Figures I, III, IV, V and XVIII.

Figure XX is a fragmentary sectional elevation illustrating the ball feed drive mechanism, taken on lines XX-XX of Figures III, IV and V.

Figure XXI is a detailed sectional plan taken on line XXI-XXI :of Figure XX.

Figure XXII is a detailed sectional plan taken on line XXII XXII of Figure XX.

Figure XXIII is a perspective View of a guard for controlling the discharge of the balls from the container.

Figure XXIV is a fragmentary sectional elevation of a clutch for controlling the main drive shaft taken on line XXIV-XXIV of Figure V.

Figure XXV is a similar view showing the clutch in closed position.

Figure XXVI is a detail sectional elevationtaken on line XXVI-XXVI of Figure XXV.

Figure XXVII is a fragmentary plan of the main drive shaft showingthe groove in which the clutch locking pin is adapted to travel.

Figure XXVIII is a fragmentary sectional elevation taken on lines XXVIII XXVIII of Figures II and XXIX,

Figure XXIX is a transverse sectional elevation taken on line XXIX XXIX of Figures I, II, III, IV, VII and VIII.

Figure XXX is a tragn'ientary sectional elevation taken on lines XXX-XXX of Figures II and XXIX.

Figure XXXI is fragmentary sectional plan taken on line XXXIXXXI of Fig ure XXIX.

Figure XXXII is a erspective view of a chute for conveying the balls from the cylinders.

Figure XXXIII is a plan view of the ball gauging cylinders shown inclined at an exview taken on line sizes, although they may varcy Figure XXXIV is a transverse sectional view taken on the line XXXI'VXXXIV of Figure XXXIII. i

Figure XXXV is a transverse sectional view taken on line XXXVXXXV of Figure XXXIII.

Figure XXXVI is a transverse sectional XXXVI-XXXVI of Figure XXXIII.

Figure XXXVII is a plan view of a portion of one of the double screw-cylinder adjusting mechanisms having shown thereon a scale for indicating the amount of adjustment of the cylinder for a predetermined movement of the worm shaft by which the double screw is actuated,'and

Figure XXXVIII is a diagrammatic view of .the cylinders showing by dotted lines the position at which balls of predetermined sizes are adapted to pass between said cylinders.

Similar reference numerals of the drawings.

In the construction of ball bearings, it is essential that the balls of the individual bearings be of uniform diameter to insure quiet running, maximum. load carrying capacity, and long life of the bearing. Since in the making of balls for use in ball bearings it is impossible to manufacture them in large quantities t3 an exact size, it becomes necessary to provide means for gauging and separating the balls of difierent only a few thousandths of an inch in iameter. At the present time it is the general practice, in constructing ball gauging machines, to employ a pair of straight edges slightly inclined with respect to each. other, and upon which the balls are adapted to travel until they reach a point. at which they will fall through or between the straightedges. The objection to the use of these iknife-edged members is that they are effective for. the

' purpose provided only for a very, short period of't'ime, hours, as the knife edges upon which the balls travel soon become worn, making it necessary for the user to grinding and relapping the edges. This class of work is extremely difficult and re-.

quires the services of an expert continually, and by reason of the timerequired to keep machines of this type in proper condition for service, their capacity is very greatly reduced.

It is for this reason, as I understand, that there is a general complaint among ball bearing manufacturers of the present type of ball gauging machines, which are considered most unsatisfactory from a commercial standpoint for the reasons pointed out above.

It is the object of this invention-to overmore satisfactory 7 refer to similar parts throughout the several viewsusually not exceeding a few" be constantly 're-' come the objections to the present types of machines and to greatly prolong the effective life and use of machines used for the purpose of gauging balls, such as are employed in various types of ball bearings.

By em lo'ying an entirely new principle,

I am ena led to produce a ball gauging machine, the gauging members of which when in. constant use need not be reground for relatively long periods of time.

In carrying out the present invention, I employ-a plurality of cylinders or rollers of any suitable hardened material ground to a perfect cylindrical form. As the wearing surfaces of these cylinders is infinitely greater than the wearing surfaces of the straight edges, and as the cylinders are constantly in motion, the life and accuracy of the present machine is far greater and'far than that of the machines now in use. I

In order. to make it impossible for ;the cylinders to have an eccentric action while rotating they are supported 'upon their outer cylindrical surfaces by plain surface bearin s, rather than by supporting them upon re uced ends which niig t not be accurately centered upon the cylinders.

Adjustment of the distance between the cylinders to within one twenty-thousandth of an inch is obtained by the use of a very satisfactory adjusting mechanism at the ends, preferably of only one of the cylinders, while the other cylinder, although adjustably mounted, is preferably held fixed in a permanent position. Each adjusting mechanism for eflecting angular adjustment of one of the cylinders relatively to the other consists of a double screw turned by a worm gearing, a scale being preferably provided for indicating the amount of movement of the adjusted cylinder for a fraction of a revolution of the worm carrying shaft. The threads of one portion of the double screw may have one-eighth of an inch pitch, while the other portion may have one-tenth of an inch pitch.- Thus one turn of the double screw causes a movement equal to the difference in pitches of the screws, or one-fortieth of an inch. If the ratio of the worm gearing is 25'to 1, an adjustment of one/onethousandth of an inch may be obtained by one turn of the worm gear, andif the worm is only turned one-twentieth of a revolution then the cylinder will be moved only one/ one-twentythousandth of an inch. While since the influence of the temperature upon the cylinders and upon the balls is equalized by the influence of the temperature upon the double screws.

The ball au 'in c linders are of coursedirection opposite to that intended.

The speed of the balls downwardly upon th inclin'ed'cylinders is controlled by a suitable adjusting means provided for changing the angle at which said frame is inclined, while the interval of time between the dropping of the balls upon the cylinders is also regulated by suitable means provided for that purpose.

While in the present case I have shown only one pair of the ball gauging cylinders, it will be understood that the number may be multiplied if it is desired to increase the capacity of the machine, and that all of the cylinders may be actuated by a common driving mechanism such as that shown in the drawings.

Considering the numbered parts of the drawings, 1 represents the bed or base of the machine, which is provided with the uprights 2 and 3 at one end thereof. Mounted upon the upright 2 is an extension consisting of a base bolted to the upright and carrying 'two spaced upstanding plate members 4 upon which the ball container is supported and upon the upright 3 is mounted an extension 5 as clearly shown in Figure II. The cylinder supporting frame 6 is pivoted at one end between the outer extension plate 4 and the extension 5 by means of the pivot pins 7, as shown in Figure VI.

As a means for adjustably inclining the frame 6 to any desired angle, I employ at the free or outer end of the frame a segment 8, the teeth of which mesh with the teeth of a gear 9 journaled in a bracket 10 on the bed 71, said gear being actuated by a worm 9 pro vided with an operating rod or shaft 11, also journaled in said bracket, and which may be actuated in either direction by a suitable handle (not shown).

The spaced extension plates 4 carry, at their upperends, a flanged base 12 for the ball receiving container 13, as shown in section in Figure XX.

Extending downwardly from the container base 12 at one side thereof and between the plate members 4 is an arm 14, provided with a horizontally disposed bearing 15, in which is journaled the main drive shaft 16 carrying a grooved driving pulley 17, as shown in Figures I, V and XX. The inner plate member 4 at one side thereof is provided with a right angle portion 18 upon aaeaaea gauging cylinders is provided with suitable end bearings 21 and an intermediate bear- 7 ing 22 supported by the frame, as shown in Figure V. The inner end of the main drive shaft 16 is provided with a friction driving disc 23 which is in driving engagement with a ring 2 1- carried between two clamping members 25 adjustably mounted on the transverse drive shaft 20, it being understood that adjustment of the ring 24 toward or from the center of the disc 23 will serve to increase or decrease thespeed of the shaft 20 the desired amount.

Mounted upon the frame 6 is a transverse slide 26 having at one end a fixed guide 27 and at the other an adjustable guide 28, as shown in Figure VII. The slide 26 is wid-- ened at its ends and slotted to receive the lower halves :29 of the bearing boxes for the adjustable cylinder 30, as shown in Figure VII. As the bearings for the adjustable cylinder 30 and the relatively fixed cylinder 31 are the same, a description of one will suflice for the other, it being seen that the bearings of the relatively fixed cylinder 31 are adjustably mounted upon the frame 6 by providing slots 31 in the frame to receive the clamping bolts 32, as shown in Figure XIII, whereby said cylinder is adjustable laterally of the cylinder 30, The lower half 29 of each of said bearing boxes is held in fixed position by said bolts 32, while the u per halves 33 of said boxes are held upon t e lower halves by means of the screws 34, as shown in Figure XIII. A pin 35 is loosely positioned between the upper and lower halves of the boxes at their outer ends and this pin serves as a pivot upon which the upper half of the box may rotate when the same is being clamped in position upon the bearing sleeves by means of the screw 34. That portion of the hearing which comes in direct contact with the cylinder or roller comprises a split sleeve 36, said sleeve being provided with a number of longitudinally disposed slots 37, which are alternately cut from the opposite ends of the sleeve, as shown in Figure XVI. The bearing sleeve 36 is tapered to receive a correspondingly tapered split sleeve 38, shown in Figure XV, this latter sleeve forming a tapered seat or support for the sleeve hearing 36. As the rollers or cylinders have to be reground from time to time, it is necessary to adjust the slotted bearings 36 to fit the cylinders when ground, and this is done by means of a split ring 39 mounted upon the outer face of the sleeve 38, and which is adjustably connected with the two halves 29 and 33 of the bearing box by means of the screws 40, as shown in Figure XIV,

' best shown it being understood that tightening of the screws will effect a reduction in the size of the sleeve bearings 36 to agree with the size of the reground cylinders when mounted therein by reason of the wedging action of the outer sleeve 38 upon the split sleeve 36. I

The cylinders 30 and 31. are each reduced at one end as indicated at -tl in Figures VII and VIII, these reduced ends being provided with the gears 42 which are adapted to mesh with the worms 43 and -14. on the transverse shaft 20. as shown in Figure VI, the

worm 44: being made longer than the worm 43 for the reason that the cylinder 30 is the one which is carried by the slide, the gear thereof being adapted to travel upon said worm 44: back and forth, as the slide is adjusted from time to time.

I The means for adjusting the slide 26 is in Figures VI and XVIII. This means comprises a shaft 45 mounted in bearings 46 upon the frame 6. said shaft being provided at each end with a pinion 47, meshing with a rack 48, which is connected with" the slide 26 by means of the. screws 49. Fixed upon the shaft 45 is a gear 50 adapted to mesh with a worm 51 on the inner end of an operating rod 52 which is journaled in the boss 53 of the frame member 6, said rod extending outwardly from the frame and being adapted to be rotated in either direction by a suitable handle (not-shown); The mechanism just described comprises the operating mechanism for effecting the relatively coarse adjustment of the cylinder 30 with respect to the cylinder 31..

The means for effecting a fine or more accurate adjustment of the cylinder 30 with respect to the cylinder 31 is best shown in Figures III, IX. X and XI. In carrying out this the slide 26 a bracket 54 having the split jaws or hearing portions which are adjustable toward each other by means of the screws 56 as shown in Figure IX. A some what similar bracket 57 having upstanding split. jaws is mounted directly opposite the bracket 54 in a slot formed in the frame 6 and said member is held upon the frame by 'ently of the other. it

feature of the invention. I secure in vtransverse grooves formed near the ends of The threaded portion 61 of other by means of the adjusting screws 63. The jaws at their base are preferably formed integral with a slide 64 which is recessed at 65 to permit longitudinal movement of the screw portion 61 therein The slide 64 is adapted to travel upon the base 66 of the bracket 54 as shown inFigure IX, said slide being provided with a cylindrical extension or plunger 67, which is slidably mounted between the jaws of the bracket 54, and which is free to move therein when the screw 56 is loosened. The double screw portions 61and 60 are. preferably provided with 8 and 1.0 threads per inch respectively, and said portions are carried by a shaft 68 which is provided with a gear 69 having a sleeve 7 O journaled in the bearing 71' upon the bein held upon the hearing by means of a nut 2, as shown in FigureXI, it being un derstood that the gear 69 is keyed upon the shaft 68, which is slidably mounted in the sleeve 70 to permit longitudinal movement of the shaft and the screw portions 60 and 61 thereon. The bearing 71 is connected with the bracket 57 by, any suitable means.

bracket .57, said sleeve her 71, said 'shaft' being adapted to be ro- I tated in either (not shown).

The mechanism 'ust described for effecting the relatively direction by'a suitable handle fine adjustment of the cylinder 30 is duplicated in order that each end of the cylinder may be adjusted independbeing understood that the outer-end of the cylinder, or that opposite the driving end thereof, will be spaced farther from the relatively fixed cylinder than the inner end by a few thousandths of an inch, or whatever is necessary to insure the desired inclination of one cylinder with respect to the other to accommodate the different size balls to be gauged. In order that the exact. amount of adjustment of each end of the cylinder 30 may be known for agiven turn of the .worm shaft'74 I have provided upon this shaft a mark 74: and upon the lug 75 a circular scale comprising a plurality of marks or lines 75, as shown in Figure XXXVII. In the present instance the graduations -75' are twenty in number and for one-twentieth of a turn of the worm shaft 74 the double screw will efiect a movement of the. cylinder 30 one one twenty thousandth of an inch, as previously stated. The manner in which the cylinder 30 is adjusted by means of the double screw arrangement is a very simple/one. Assuming by way of illustration that the screw portion 60 is provided with 8 threads per inch or one-eighth inch pitch and the screw portion 61 with threads per inch or onetenth inch pitch, then it will be seen that one turn of the double screw will effect a movement of the cylinder equal to the dif ference in the pitches of the screws, or onefortieth of an inch. Assuming further that the ratio of the worm gearing is that of 25 to 1, it will be seen that one turn of the worm 73 will efl'ect rotation of the double screw to the extent of one-twentyfifth of a revolution, and one-twentyfifth times. onefortieth equals one-one-thousandth of an inch, which is the amount the cylinder 30 will be moved by one turn of the worm 73. If the worm were given only one-twentieth of a turn then the cylinder would be moved only one one twenty-thousandth of an inch. By this medhanism it will be seen that a very fine adjustment of the cylinder 30 at either end may be efi'ected with respect to the cylinder 31. Referring to the diagram shown in Figure XXXVIII, and assuming that the cylinders have been adjusted so that a quarter of an inch ball will pass between them at the zero point, then a ball one oneten-thousandth of an inch larger will pass between the cylinders at the point indicated by the next succeeding dotted line on the right. From this diagram it will be seen that balls of eight different sizes may be gauged by the cylinders, and that a ball too large to pass between the cylinders along the main gauging portion thereof is'adapted to be discharged at the point wherethe cylinders are grooved near their outer ends. as indicated XXXVI. The shaded balls shown in Figure XXXIII are assumed to be of a perfect size,

I that is of a size to pass between the cylinders at the zero point, as indicated bydotted line in Figure XXXVIII, and the point at which this size ball will pass between the cylinders in F igure' XXXIII is indicatedby the section line XXXVXXXV which corresponds in this figure to the zero point shown in Figure XXXVIII, and which is also the point at which the same size ball will pass between the cylinders, as indicated in Figure XXXV. The larger ball shown by-dotted lines in Figure XXXIII is one which is adapted to pass between the cylinders a little to the right of the zero point, and it is assumed that this ball will be one one-thousandth of an inch larger than the perfect ball. The large ball shown by dotted lines in Figure XXXIII, which is in position to pass between the rollers at the points where they are grooved, is one which it is assumed may inadverdently find its way to the container from time to time, but such cases will, of course, not occur very frequently. 'Ihis ball is shown also in full lines in Figure XXXVI in position to pass in Figures XXXIII and aaeaaea between the rollers at the points where they are grooved.

In order to prevent the turning of the cylinders in a direction toward each other, in case the main drive shaft should be rotated in a direction opposite to that intended, I have rovided an automatic clutch mechanism which is best shown in F igures- V, XX, and XXIV to XXVII inclusive. In carrying out this feature of the invention, I have provided upon the bearing 15 of the main shaft 16 a disc 76 preferably held upon the bearing by means of the screws 77, as shown in Figure XXIV. The disc 76 is provided with a series of circumferentially arranged apertures 78 as shown in Figure XXVI, and a co-acting' disc 79 is slidably mounted upon the shaft 16, and is provided with two or more pins 80 which are adapted to engage the disc 76 in the apertures 78 thereof, as shown in FigureXXV. Whenever the shaft 16 is inadverdently rotated in the wrong direction, the sliding disc 79 is adapted to be actuated at such times by means of a spring 81, having one end seated against said disc and surrounding the sleeve 82 thereof, the opposite end of said spring being seated in the groove 83 of the collar 84, the reduced portion 85 of which frictionally engages the stop 86 carried by one of the upright plate members 4;, as shown in Figure V. and through which the main drive shaft extends as shown in Figures XXIV and XXV. The shaft 16 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove 87 having an offset portion 88 in which a pin 89 on the sleeve 82 normally rests as shown in Figure XXIV. With the pin .in this position and the shaft 16 rotating in a direction indicated by the arrow in Figure XXIV the disc 79, spring 81, and sleeve 84 will rotate with the shaft. the reduced portion 85 of the sleeve rotating at the same time upon the stop 86. However, if the shaft 16 is accidentally rotated in the opposite direction, the pin 89 will move into alignment with the groove 87 and at such time the spring 81 will force the disc 79 to slide upon the shaft in the direction of the disc 76, and the pins 80 will be extended into the apertures 78 of the disc 7 6, as shown in Figure XXV, and since said disc 76 is rigidly fixed uponthe bearing 15, rotation of the shaft 16 will thereby be prevented. At any time that the clutch may be thrown into locking position by rotation of the shaft 16 in the wrong direction, it can be readily reset to normal position as shown in Figure XXIV.

. In the adjustment of the slide 26 from time to time, it is necessary to provide means for clamping the same in whatever os1tion it may be desired to secure it, and y referring to Figure VII at the left hand extending into the recesses 92 in the guide 28 as shown, said screws being provided with the heads 93 by which they are rotated in either direction Springs 94 are seated between theguide 28 and the washers 95 carried by the boss 91, said springs being protected by a cover plate 96 secured to theboss by means ofthe screws 97. When the screws 90 are loosened, only the springs 94 hold the guide 28 in engagement with the slide 26 and therefore ad ustment of the slide is permitted either by the turning of theworm 7 3 shown in Figure X or by the turning of the worm 51 shown in Figure VI,

'itbeing understood that turning of the last mentioned worm will effect a relatively coarse adjustment of the cylinder 30 and that turning of the worm 73 will effect a very fine adjustment thereof at either end of the cylinder.

In providing means for taking care of the end thrust or longitudinal adjustment of the cylinders, I have shown'at one end of each cylindera bracket 98 connected preferably with the lower bearing member 29 by means of the screws 99 as shown in Figures VII and VIII. bracket is threaded to receive the screw 100 carrying the cone shaped bearing or thrust member 101, which engages the end of the cylinder in a correspondingly shaped recess formed therein. Nuts 102 are provided upon the screw on opposite sides .of the-bracket to lock said screw in adjusted position upon the bracket. The cone shaped thrust members 101 serve to prevent longitudinal movement of the cylinders within their hearings in an outward direction, The cylinders are preferably made hollow and both ends are provided with the cone shaped recesses which serve to effect-a more convenient mounting for the cylinders when laced in a regrinding' machine. The action of gravity upon the cylinders tends to keep them in contact with the cone shaped thrust bearings, since the frame upon which the cylinders are mounted is inclined downwardly at its outer end as shown in Figure I I. However, the cylinders are additionally held in engagement with the thrust bearings by rotating the driving wormsv 43 and 44 in a direction toward the cylinders, as indicated by the arrow in Figure V.

In providing means for driving the ball feed mechanism I mount upon the main drive shaft 16 a worm 103 meshing with a gear 104 fixed upon a vertically disposed shaft 105, which is journaled in a bearing 106 extending downwardly from the container base 12 between the uprights tas The upper end of the shown in Figure XX. The lower end of the shaft 105 is recessed to receive a ball thrust bearing 107 which may rotate upon a series of smaller balls 108 mounted in the cone shaped recess 109 of the cup 110, carried by the recessed holder or bracket 111, the opposite ends of which are supported by the posts 112 extending upwardly from the base plate which carries the uprights 4,

as shown in Figure II. The posts at their upper ends are threaded and provided with nuts 113'which sery e to retain the holder 111 in proper position upon the posts. An adjusting screw 114,.for the cup 110 is extended through the base of the holder 1 11 toef fect adjustment of the cup with the ball 107 and shaft 105 carried thereon, said screw being provided with a nut 115 by which it is turned and a lock nut 116. as shown in Figure XX. The ball thrust bearing107 for the shaft 105 may be adjusted from time to time by loosening the nut 116 and turning the nut 115 in the desired direction. The

shaft'105 is provided near its upper end with a collar 117 adapted to prevent said shaft from dropping through its bearing when the thrust bearing at the bottom of the shaft is removed. H

The base 12 of the ball container is provided at one side with a circular recess 1.18, in the bottom of which is a disc-119, having a centrally disposed opening 120 through which the upper reduced end 121 of the shaft 105 projects. At one side of the disc 119 is a ball discharging opening 122 registering with an opening 123 in the bottom wall of the container. 124 is mounted upon the top of the disc 1.19 and is keyed upon the upper end 121 of the shaft 105 so that it will rotate with said shaft. The feed disc 124 is provided with a series of openings 125. which are of a size to accommodate the balls to be fed to the cylinders, it being understood that a numberof these discs may be provided and used independently with holes varying in A ball feed disc size, according to the size of the balls to be gauged. Secured upon the upper end of the reduced portion 121 of the shaft is a cylindrical cover or cap member 126 which serves to keep the balls from collecting at the center of the feed disc. thereby causing them to be more evenly distributed in .the

openings 125, each of which is adapted to register with the opening 122 in the station ary disc 119, through which the balls are discharged one by one. and conveyed to the cylinders by means of thetrough 127 emptying into the small hopper 128. at the inner ends of the cylinders, said trough being supported by the plate 129. as shown in Figures'II. IV and XX. The small hopper 128 is provided with a finger 130 in its bottom which extends between the cylinders to insure the delivery of the balls thereto. 

